I'm a food reporter who's never been to Golden Corral. I visited the only location in NYC since it went viral, and my $25 meal completely surpassed my expectations.

Lauren EdmondsJan 27, 2024, 18:22 IST

New York City's only Golden Corral location is in the Bronx, where staffers went viral online. Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider; bronxgoldencorral/Instagram

I visited Golden Corral for the first time this week.
New York City only has one location in the Bronx, where staffers went viral on social media.

New York City's first and only Golden Corral is getting a lot of attention thanks to its viral social media campaign.

A video shared on its official Instagram account in December 2023 showed staffers dancing to Burna Boy's "Ye" to the tune of 5.6 million views on Instagram.

"This gotta be the most nyc promotion ever," one person wrote in the comments. "Tell golden corral give ya a commercial."

I have to admit that the video also piqued my interest.

I've never eaten at a Golden Corral, so the fun and catchy video made me want to check it out, despite living over an hour away in Brooklyn. I'm a bit iffy about eating at buffets, but inflation has reinvigorated all-you-can-eat eateries.

CNN reported in May 2023 that restaurants like Golden Corral, Cicis, and Pizza Ranch were seeing more customers as people searched for affordable deals.

I didn't have high expectations, but the service and food pleasantly surprised me.

I visited the only Golden Corral in New York City, which is nestled in the Bronx.

A photo of the restaurant's exterior.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

The ordering process is streamlined, and their prices don't break the bank.

A snapshot of the restaurant's seating area.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

There were at least six food stations, including the carving station.

The Golden Corral location in the Bronx had six different food stations, including the carving station.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

The diverse menu featured healthy options and favorite family entrées.

There were also stations for homestyle food and healthy entrees.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

There was also a dessert table with cakes and other baked goods.

The dessert station offered cake, cookies, and other treats.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

For my main course, I tried three proteins and four side items.

I tried three proteins and three side dishes for my first plate.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

I tried the piña colada cake for dessert, which is a smash hit.

I had baked goods and some fruit for dessert.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

Golden Corral surpassed my expectations with their food.

The local Golden Corral exceeded my expectations.Lauren Edmonds/Business Insider

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